West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-06-30

Why man the bOatsG" said the mate;
mo boat could live in such sea as
this.
Il" That may be true, 50 replied the Cap
tam, 80 but we can all get into the boats,
ana let them remain fastened to the brig.
until the very moment she is going
down, and then cut loose. and thus we
won't be sucked downward to such
great depth 10y the sinking vessel, nor be
killed 10y the fragments bursting up
ward, and If the boats swamp some may
be able TO get hold of fragments. that
will support them, until the sea becomes
calm"
~ understand" replied the mate.
but can't see much hope in either
case
"Heave away, my hcarties, never say
die" shouted the captain TO the men
who were lowering the yawl; and they
did heave away and the boat was soon
rocking upon the billowy tide. The
other boats, three in number, had been
lowered at the same time at other points:
and q general scramble commenced to
see who shoIld be first To Get
in them. Captain Murray now turned
to Adelaide Bronson and said "NIiSs
Adelaide, this IS probably our last hour
on earth. ] viii tell You know what I
would not have had the courage TO tell
you under other circumstances. | love
You as | never loved any other before
You were placed under my charge TO
watch over and protect, but now must
place you under the care of some one else
in one Of the boats, for | must be the
last TO leave my vessel, and il may 90
down before | can leave il. Come, and
as we go I'll say farewell
NAY, Captain Murray, would stay
with yOI. ] love you, / warrant, as much
az you do me, and when you die wish
to die also
The Captain clasped her in his arms.
and amid the howlding OF the storm. and
the lurching of the vessel imprinted upon
her lips kiss Of pure and holy love. The
storm had now lulled considerably, vet
the sea was violently rough The last OF
the passengers and scamen were scram-
bling into the boats. Pete, the Captains
cook, was handing down into the yawl
little girl, the daughter of the mate. who
stood just behind anXiously looking on.
when suddenly the vessel gave n great
forward lurch
"Cut loose, " cried those in the boat.
"she's going under" 1t was immedi-
atcly done. Pete and the mate sprnng
over into the yawl at the risk of MAIN
ing some one, and the boats all shot
away from the doomed vessel, on whose
deck alone was left Captain Murray and
Adelaide, clasISed in each others arms,
and thus they went down, down, down,
with their ill-starred vessel TO its watcry
grave. To Captain Murray, who held
Adelaide clasped tightly i'm his arms. il
seemed as if they would never begin 10
rise again. All mt oncch Inc felt something
surge up beneath his feet, bearing them
upward He never lost his consciousness
but great roaring was in his ears. and
il seemed as if he would suffocate for
want of air. Let any one hold his
breath a minute by the watch If he can.
and he will have some idea Of his feelings
as he went up, up to the surface II
was reached at last The Captain
caught one gasp of air, and before he
could catch another, felt himself and
Adelaide going, down, down, again /:
but in few seconds they returned to
the surface. The stout planking of one
of the decks had broken loose from the
sunken vessel and had arisen immedi-
ately beneath them, and its buoyancy
doubtless saved them from going TO a
much greater depth and from perishing.
The part of the deck which had broken
loose was some eight or ten feet in width
and double that in length. The plank
ing had been stouly braced together. so
that there was but little danger Of its 90
ing to pieces Immediately. Near the
outer edge Of this planking, securely
fastened to it, were some iron rings.
which had been thus placed that ropes
might be drawn through and secured
Providentially as they came 20 the sur
face the second time, Captain Murray
was directly over one Of these rings The
Captain instantly 0raSped the ring with
his left, hand, while he supported the
now unconscious Adelaide with his right.
He caught his breath rapidly as the
planking beneath them arose TO the top
OF a huge wave. The life-giving air re-
newed his almost exhausted strength.
and he instantly arose erect, and lifting
adelaide as high as ne could reach above
his head, he ran his foot through the
ring, so that he mightnOt be swept back
ward and of into the water ms thevwcnt
down into the trough OF the billow. As
they went downward, the plankinQ shot
into, aud was for q short time 40 decply
submerged in the next wave that the
water swept mp even into the Captains
face and had it not been for his foot
in the ring, and the other foot hard
braced behind him. ne would have been
instantly swept away; as it was he with
difficulty held Adelaide clear of the
water above him, and maintained his
balance The ring was near the for
ward end Of the planking and the
weight Of the Captain and Adelaide had
submerged their frail support much more
than it would otherwise have been. The
Captain felt that he could not maintain
his position long As they rose 10 the
top Of the next wave he looked back and
saw, he expected, another ring 40 the
back end Of the plunking.
Tic Immediately rushed toward it.
bearing adelaide with him Ills expc-
rience In walking upon the deck Of his
vessel when 10 was rolling and lurchinQ
so that a landsman would have fallen
headlonP, now enabled him 10 reach the
other ring in safety, just as they went
sweeping down into the trough Of the
next billow. The weight. now SO sud
denly transferred 10 the back end. so
raised the front Of the plankinR, that
when 10 divcd into the next wave the
water barely swept around the gallant
Captains ankles Tic now felt much